Embry‑Riddle Joins Forces with Industry Titans to Strengthen Aviation Cybersecurity

Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University has joined a collaborative effort with NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to address the increasingly important area of aviation cybersecurity. This collaboration resulted in the inaugural Embry‑Riddle-NASA-NSF Aviation Cyber Security Workshop, held at Embry‑Riddle’s Prescott Campus, to address the growing challenge of securing critical aviation systems in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

“Aviation cybersecurity is an increasingly critical area that demands our attention,” said Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who provided a pre-recorded address to workshop attendees in April. “The CyberCorps SFS program is helping strengthen our public cybersecurity workforce, and Embry‑Riddle is the only SFS institution for aviation and aerospace cybersecurity. That’s why I don’t think there’s any better host for today’s important gathering.”

Building a Cyber Community

The April workshop brought industry leaders, government agencies and academia together to share the latest advancements in aviation cybersecurity. A central focus of the workshop was to identify future research and development needs and highlight workforce training requirements.

“This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between academia and the industry,” said Dr. Krishna Sampigethaya, professor and chair of the Cyber Intelligence and Security Department at Embry‑Riddle, which is a NSF CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service institution. “This ensures that students are developing skills that can serve the workforce in addressing emerging threats.”

Guests included representatives from leading industry employers, national research labs and academic institutions nationwide. Experts from Amazon, the FBI, MIT Lincoln Labs, UC Berkeley and many other organizations collaborated to examine the unique challenges facing aviation cybersecurity.

“I would like to express my immense gratitude to Dr. Ambareen Siraj and Dr. Li Yang from the NSF, and Paul Hoyt Nelson from NASA, for supporting this event, and to all participants for their invaluable contributions,” Sampigethaya added.

The Next Generation

The workshop also hosted student attendees from over 24 educational institutions to participate in an immersive aviation cybersecurity Capture-The-Flag competition designed by Prescott Campus students.

Competitions like these introduce participants to aviation cybersecurity measures, including cyber challenges faced in aircraft, air traffic control towers and airports when attacks occur. The competition tests and enhances cybersecurity skills in a simulated environment to better understand and prepare for real-world cyber defense scenarios.

External university teams of three competed for cash prizes. Winning teams included:

1. Arizona State University and Pace University (combination)
2. Wichita State University
3. Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico and University of South Florida (combination)

In addition to the competition for external organizations, an additional event was hosted for student teams from across Embry‑Riddle’s residential campuses, as well. That event was won by students Brandon Chua, Brandon Greenaway and Nicholas Harris from the university’s Prescott Campus.